102nd UM Foresters Ball Features Education Music and Beer Garden

This Friday and Saturday, a proud tradition continues on the University of Montana Campus with the 102nd Foresters Ball.

Dean of the Franke College of Forestry Tom DeLuca said the Foresters Ball, most importantly, is a ball.

“Formal wear is, of course, flannels,” said DeLuca. “The students transform the old Schreiber Gym into a turn-of-the-last-century logging town. It’s all student organized and driven and all the proceeds from the ball go to student scholarships.”

DeLuca said in addition to the dance, there will be a Forest Community Day on Saturday.

“It starts at 10 and goes until 2, and that’s just for families to come and visit the Foresters Ball. They can see the chapel and the saloon and the mercantile,” he said. “Every other year there’s a slide that goes from the upper deck of Schreiber Hall down to the floor and kids absolutely love to ride the slide. At Forest Community Day there’s an opportunity to meet with different clubs like the Forestry Club or the Wildlife Society Club or the Fisheries Club.”

DeLuca said activities on Saturday for Community Day are free of charge, but for the dance on both Friday and Saturday there is an admission charge. He said on Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the Foresters Ball Auction Dinner has a charge of $25 per person.

There was a time when alcohol was prohibited during the Foresters Ball, however that changed, surprisingly enough, thanks to UM’s head Law Enforcement Officer.

“That was my first act as Dean, “ said DeLuca. “To go over and request from the president that we be allowed to have a beer garden, which was actually a recommendation from Marty Ludemann who is the head of campus security. He felt a beer garden would actually improve the situation. There had been some alcohol consumption issues in the past, and we haven’t had any issues for the past couple of years.”

The dance itself is Friday and Saturday night from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. Participants must enter the ball by 10:00 p.m. when the doors will close.